Survey \Sur*vey"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Surveyed; p. pr. & vb.
n. Surveying.] [OF. surveoir, surveer; sur, sor, over, E.
sur + veoir, veeir, to see, F. voir, L. videre. See Sur-,
and Vision, and cf. Supervise.]
1. To inspect, or take a view of; to view with attention, as
from a high place; to overlook; as, to stand on a hill,
and survey the surrounding country.
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Round he surveys and well might, where he stood,
So high above. --Milton.
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2. To view with a scrutinizing eye; to examine.
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With such altered looks, . . .
All pale and speechless, he surveyed me round.
--Dryden.
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3. To examine with reference to condition, situation, value,
etc.; to examine and ascertain the state of; as, to survey
a building in order to determine its value and exposure to
loss by fire.
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4. To determine the form, extent, position, etc., of, as a
tract of land, a coast, harbor, or the like, by means of
linear and angular measurments, and the application of the
principles of geometry and trigonometry; as, to survey
land or a coast.
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5. To examine and ascertain, as the boundaries and royalties
of a manor, the tenure of the tenants, and the rent and
value of the same. [Eng.] --Jacob (Law Dict.).
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Survey \Sur"vey\, n. [Formerly accentuated universally on the
last syllable, and still so accented by many speakers.]
1. The act of surveying; a general view, as from above.
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Under his proud survey the city lies. --Sir J.
Denham.
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2. A particular view; an examination, especially an official
examination, of all the parts or particulars of a thing,
with a design to ascertain the condition, quantity, or
quality; as, a survey of the stores of a ship; a survey of
roads and bridges; a survey of buildings.
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3. The operation of finding the contour, dimensions,
position, or other particulars of, as any part of the
earth's surface, whether land or water; also, a measured
plan and description of any portion of country, or of a
road or line through it.
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Survey of dogs. See Court of regard, under Regard.
Trigonometrical survey, a survey of a portion of country by
measuring a single base, and connecting it with various
points in the tract surveyed by a series of triangles, the
angles of which are carefully measured, the relative
positions and distances of all parts being computed from
these data.
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Syn: Review; retrospect; examination; prospect.
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survey
n 1: a detailed critical inspection [syn: survey, study]
2: short descriptive summary (of events) [syn: sketch,
survey, resume]
3: the act of looking or seeing or observing; "he tried to get a
better view of it"; "his survey of the battlefield was
limited" [syn: view, survey, sight]
v 1: consider in a comprehensive way; "He appraised the
situation carefully before acting" [syn: survey,
appraise]
2: look over carefully or inspect; "He surveyed his new
classmates"
3: keep under surveillance; "The police had been following him
for weeks but they could not prove his involvement in the
bombing" [syn: surveil, follow, survey]
4: hold a review (of troops) [syn: review, go over,
survey]
5: make a survey of; for statistical purposes
6: plot a map of (land)

SURVEY, The act by which the quantity of a piece of land is ascertained; the
paper containing a statement of the courses, distances, and quantity of
land, is also called a survey.
2. A survey made by authority of law and duly returned into the land
office, is a matter of record, and of equal dignity with the patent. 3
Marsh. 226; 2 J. J. Marsh, 160. See 3 Greenleaf, 126; 5 Greenleaf, 24; 14
Mass. 149 1 Harr. & John. 20 1 1 Overt. 199; 1 Dev. & Bat. 76.
3. By survey is also understood an examination; as, a survey has been
made of your house, and now the insurance company will insure it.